Passages

On the final day of his shoot in Paris, German filmmaker Tomas is visibly tense. He is all stern exactitude as he explains to his extras just precisely how to position their hands or what their motivation is as they walk down a flight of stairs – right up until the final slate. At the wrap party, Tomas falls first into the arms of his British husband Martin, but then he meets a young primary school teacher, Agathe. A dance develops into a flirtation and then into a passionate night together. The next morning, Tomas proudly tells Martin that he has slept with a woman. As this one-night stand grows into something more, the relationship between the two men begins to change. A tale of relationships that is marked by passion, jealousy and narcissism unfolds in which each shows scant sensitivity for the needs of the others.
Ira Sachs’ latest work, his sixth outing in Panorama, once again proves his talent for carefully observed relationship dramas. There is a hint of French cinema and a tang of Fassbinder wafting around the three protagonists as their personal wounds constantly redefine the power relations between them.
by Ira Sachs
with Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, Adèle Exarchopoulos
France 2023 English, French 91’ Colour European premiere

With

  • Franz Rogowski (Tomas)
  • Ben Whishaw (Martin)
  • Adèle Exarchopoulos (Agathe)

Crew

Director Ira Sachs
Screenplay Mauricio Zacharias, Ira Sachs
Cinematography Josée Deshaies
Editing Sophie Reine
Sound Anne Gibourg, Cyril Holtz, Thomas Gastinel
Production Design Pascale Consigny
Costumes Khadija Zeggaï
Make-Up Natali Tabareau Vieuille
Assistant Director Julie-Anne Simon
Casting Aline Badiane, Judith Chalier
Production Manager Marianne Germain
Producers Saïd Ben Saïd, Michel Merkt

Produced by

SBS Productions

Ira Sachs

Born in Memphis, USA in 1965, Sachs’ work has already screened in the Berlinale Panorama section in 2005 with Forty Shades of Blue, in 2010 with Last Address and in 2012 with Keep the Lights On which won the Teddy Award. In 2013 he was a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship.

Filmography (selection)

1992 Vaudeville 1994 Lady; short film 1997 The Delta 2000 10/26/00; short film 2005 Forty Shades of Blue 2007 Married Life 2010 Last Address; short documentary 2012 Keep the Lights On 2014 Love is Strange 2016 Little Men 2019 Frankie 2023 Passages

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023